Archdiocese of Los Angeles agrees to pay $US880 million to victims of clergy sexual abuse
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The Archdiocese of Los Angeles has agreed to pay $US880 million ($1.3 billion) to victims of clergy sexual abuse dating back decades, in what has been announced as the largest single child sex abuse settlement with a Catholic archdiocese.
Archbishop José H. Gomez said in a statement: “I am sorry for every one of these incidents, from the bottom of my heart,” after the announcement of the agreement in principle.
“My hope is that this settlement will provide some measure of healing for what these men and women have suffered,” the archbishop added.
“I believe that we have come to a resolution of these claims that will provide just compensation to the survivor-victims of these past abuses.”
Attorneys for 1,353 people who allege that they suffered horrific abuse at the hands of local Catholic priests reached the settlement after months of negotiations with the archdiocese, the Los Angeles Times reported.
The agreement caps a quarter-century of litigation against the most populous archdiocese in the United States.
Attorneys in the Plaintiffs’ Liaison Committee said in a joint statement “there is no amount of money” that can replace what was taken from these people who “suffered in silence for decades.”
“There is justice in accountability,” the spokesperson added.
“We are grateful to the brave survivors who came forward to hold those responsible accountable and to protect the children of the future.
“We appreciate the Archdiocese of Los Angeles for acknowledging its failures that enabled and perpetuated the harm that came to these children.”
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